Public Sector Employment UK - September 2023 - Numbers Up

13th December 2023

Total public sector employment increased in September 2023 compared with the previous quarter and the previous year; central government is the main contributor to the rise.

There were an estimated 5.90 million employees in the public sector in September 2023, which is 35,000 (0.6%) more than in June 2023 and 135,000 (2.3%) more than in September 2022.

Employment in central government was an estimated 3.70 million in September 2023, up 34,000 (0.9%) compared with June 2023 and up 126,000 (3.5%) compared with September 2022; the main contributors to this increase were the NHS, the Civil Service, and local authority schools becoming academies.

The NHS employed an estimated 1.98 million people in September 2023, an increase of 20,000 (1.0%) compared with June 2023 and an increase of 84,000 (4.4%) compared with September 2022.

Employment in local government was an estimated 2.00 million in September 2023 and little changed on the previous quarter, it was 1,000 (0.0%) more than in June 2023 and 8,000 (0.4%) more than in September 2022; an increase in employment in the police contributed to the increase from a year ago.

There were 529,000 employees in the Civil Service in September 2023, up 7,000 (1.3%) compared with June 2023, and up 16,000 (3.1%) compared with September 2022.

Read the full report HERE